Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



Mar. 20, 1923. 1,448,795. 4 A. H. DE VOE. I FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWlNG MACHINES.

FILED DEC, 4. 1918. 3 SHEETS-SHEETJ.

INVENTOR TTORNEY Mar. 20; 1928. 1,448,795. A. H. DE v05.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

FILED DEC. 4. 19KB. 3 SHEETS-SHEET z.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR QM. BY M I TTORNEYY Mar. 20, 1923. I 1,448,795.

A. H. DE VOE.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

F ILED DEC. 4, 1918- i 3 SHEETSSHEET 3 WITNESSES: 'INVENTOR TTORNEY li atented Mar. 20, i923.

UNTTED titans rarsu'r orrics- ALBERT H. DE VOE, OF ESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU- FACTURING- COMPANY, A GORPORATION OF NEVI JERSEY.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed December 4, 1918.

To aZZ column it may concern:

Be it known that If, ALI-mar H. Dr. Von, a citizen of the United Stator-3, residing at est-field. in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Feeding Mechanisms for Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to feeding mechanisms therefor.

In the manufacture of skirts and nether garments it is customary to stitch a facing thereto by a plurality of seams necessitating separate stitching operations. The facing is usually laid on the body of the garment with its edge overlying the edge of the gar meat then stitched some little distance in ii, from the edges. After this the united facing and garment are folded about the seam as a hinge, folds being made in the body of the garment and the facing and concealing the initial seam. Then a second line of stitching is run along the folded edges of both the facing and body garment close to the lines of fold. And finally a third cam is made some distance from the first two seams through both the facing and the body close to the other edge of the former. The first of the above mentioned seams is concealed by the subsequent folding operation and therefore may be a basting seamv while the second of the above mentioned seams is exposed to view and must need be a fine or finishing sea-1n.

It has been found desirable to provide mechanism enabling an operator to quickly change from a long or basting stitch to a short or finishing stitch. The present invention aims to provide an attachment for application to the feeding mechanism of sewing machines and more specifically to the feed-regulating mechanism, which will enable an operator to pass from a basting to a finishing operation without stopping the operation of the sewing machine, without using her hands. and without interfering with the manipulation of the work.

The invention includes a feed-regulating mechanism, an operating rock-shaft of which is normally urged by a spring in a given direction against one of two adjustable stops, by which the length of the least ing and finishlng stitches may be conven- Serial No. 265,190.

iently predetermined. Through a treadle operable mechanism, the regulating mechanism may be shifted from a position determined by one of the stops to a position determincd by the other of the stops. The regulating mechanism is normally held in one position by a spring and may be moved to another position in which it is detained by a latch, which latch may be tripped to allow a return of the regulating mechanism to its initial condition. In either of the two positions, however, the regulator is held without a continuous pressure upon the treadle.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a feeding mechanism to which the invention has been applied. Fig. 2 is a front side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4: are end elevations of the attachment proper constituting mechanism for shifting the regulator. Fig. 5 is a cross section showing the details of the mechanism for imparting horizontal components of motion to the feed dog. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the feed-regulator and an associated lever, and Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of two supporting blocks.

The invention is applicable to a wide variety of feeding mechanisms, a type of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings to make its application clear.

In the drawings the feed-dog 1 is supported on a feed-dog carrying bar 2 hinged on a pin 3 in the upper end of a rocker 4; which is fulcrumed at its lower end as indicated at 5 in a. fixed part of the machine.

Vertical components of motion are imparted to the feed-dog through a link 6 extending vertically downward beneath the dog and loosely connected at 7 to the free end of a curved crank-arm 8 fast on one end of a rock-shaft 9 which at its other end carries an inclined pin 10 slidably arranged in an aperture 11 of a strap 12 embracing the lift eccentric 13 mounted on the rotating main-shaft lt of the machine. Through these connections, as will be obvious, the feed-dog is lifted in a manner Well known.

For imparting horizontal components of motion to the feed-dog the pin 3 at the upper end oft-he rocker 4 is embraced by the rear end of a link 15 which is bent down into angular form to clear the main-shaft lt on which is a feed-eccentric 16 embraced by a strap 17 pivotally connected through the pin 18 withthe link 15. The front end of the link is connected by the pin 19 be tween the arms at one end of a U-shaped link 20 whose opposite end is fulcrumed by a pin 21 between the parallel crank-arms 22 fast on a rock-shaft 23 having an operating crank handle or regulator 24.

The links 15 and 20 together constitute a toggle whose relatively fixed pivot 21 may be shifted an. arcabout the axis of the rock-shaft .23 to vary the disposition of the pivotal connections 3, 19 and 21. In the solid line position of the handle or regulator 24, shown in Fig. 4, the fulcrum-pin 21 is up and the links 15 and 29 are near alinemerit, while in the dotted line position in the same figure, the pin 21 is down and the links are considerably out of alinement. In this last position Fig. 5 shows the toggle links. In the raised position of the regulator 24 the feed is short, suitable for a finishing stitch, while in the lowered position of the regulator 24 the feed is long, suitable for a basting stitch.

The handle or-feed-regulator 24 is located conveniently at the left of the front side of the machine. In the plan view, Fig. 1, the frontside of the machine appears at the top of the figure and the left-hand end of the machine appears at the right of the figure. The regulator 24 is secured by a screw 25 in a boss 26 fast to the rock-shaft 28 and inter mediate its ends the regulator is slabbed off to form an inclined face 24 from which projects a pin 27 into a curved groove 28 provided in a block 29 supported by a stud 30 extending laterally into the standard 31 and secured by a set-screw 31. In the curved groove 28 is a coiled spring 32 which is ar ranged between the pin 27 movable with the regulator 24, and second pin 88, fixed in the block 29. This spring is under compression and tends to hold the regulator or handle 24- in the raised position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4.

The curved front face of the block 29 is provided with a channel 34 in which two slotted stops are adjustahly secured by screws 36. Adjacent the channel the face of the block 89 is suitably calibrated to indicate the length of stitch, which length of stitch is effected by setting opposite the divisions a marker or plate 37 of irregular form which is fixed by a screw 38 to the regulator 24. The marker may be slotted as indicated at 39 to receive a thumb-screw 4O threaded into the block 29 for locking the regulator against alteration when it is not desired to vary the length of stitch.

Mechanism is provided for quickly changing the regulator to pass from a finishing to a basting operation. For this purpose a le ver having a boss 46 is loosely hung on the extended sleeve portion 26 of the boss 26 and between the latter and a collar 47 fastened to the sleeve portion 26. A lost motion or yielding connection between the regulator 24 and the lever 45 is formed by housing a second coiled spring 48 in a groove 49 in the sector-block 50 fixed to the handle 24 and between two pins 51 and 52, fixed respectively to the handle 24 and the lever 45. Still another pin 52 is provided on the lever 45 and it is held against the pin 51 by the spring 48. Through this pin 52 the lever is moved downward with the regulator 24 when the latter is shifted downwardly. This lost motion or yielding connection permits the lever 45 to be moved independently of the regulator 24 when there is but small difference in the feed limits determined by the stops 35, the lost motion being permitted only in one direction.

The rear end of lever 45 is circular as indicated at 54, its center being the axis of the rock-shaft 23. A pin 55 extending laterally from the lever is adapted to seat in the notch 56 in a combined lifting and tripping member, indicated generally by the numeral 57, in the form of a plate having a wide and relatively heavy portion 58 and a depending hook or trip portion 59. The member 57 is fulcrumed on a stud-screw so that the heavy portion 58 constantly tends to rotate the member in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FigsB and 4, and thereby to carry the hook or trip 59 under a lateral pin 61 on a latch or pawl 62. The pawl 62 is pivotally sustained on a stud-screw 63 threaded into a supporting block 64 secured by a screw 65 fast to the frame of the machine. Its nose 66 is adapted to seat behind a shoulder 67 formed in the rear end of the lever 45 when the regulator has been moved down to the position shown in Fig. 3 and indicated also in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Into this locking position the latch or pawl 62 is constantly urged by the force of gravity which is augmented by a forwardly extending arm 62'.

The stud-screw 60, supporting the combined lifting and tripping member 57, is loosely mounted in the end of a lever 68 fulcruined on a headed pin 69 secured by set-screws 70 in the block 64 and having at its rear end a chain 71 or other suitable connection with a knee shift or foot-treadle 71. The lever 68 is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a third coiled spring 7 2 in the groove 73 in the supporting block 64 and between two pins 74 and 75 fixed respectivelyto the lever 68 and to the block 64. A screw 76 (with a clamp-nut 76). threaded into a clip angle 77 secured at 7 8 to the lever 68 and constituting an adjustable stop, is provided to hold the lever at starting position, so that when the various parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the hook 59 of the combined lifting and tripping member 57 will be under the pin 61 of the pawl or latch ready to remove the nose of the same from under the shoulder 67 of the lever and thereby allow the spring 32 to shiftthe regulator 24 from the dotted to the solid line positions shown in Fig. 4.

Supposing the operator is making a long or basting stitch and the regulator 24 is in the position shown in Fig. 3 with the coiled spring 32 under compression and with the nose of the latch 62 under the shoulder in the rear end of lever 45 holding or looking the regulator in a position determined by the lower of the two stops 35 which have been previously adjusted to the desired feed variations for long and short stitches, and supposing the operator wishes to follow the basting operation with a finishing operation, all that it is necessary for her to do is to press momentarily on the treadle or knee shift which will through the chain 71 rock the lever 68. Such momentary pressure elevating the combined lifting and tripping mem- I ber 57 will remove the pawl 62 from under the shoulder 67 and free the lever 45. Consequently the regulator 24 will be freed to the action of its coiled spring 32, where upon the regulator and the various parts will. move to the solid line position shown in Fig. 4.

To change from a finishing to a basting seam the regulator 24 is moved from the solid to the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 4. This is effected by pressure upon the foot treadle 71 in the same direction as before, i. e., downward. Through a downward pull upon the rear end of the lever 68' the pivot is moved upwardly and the plate 57 which is hinged on the pivot 60 with its notch 56 at this time embracing the pin 55 on the lever 45, lifts the rear end of the lever to the dotted line position shown in Fig. at in which position the pawl 62 is free to swing in behind the shoulder 67 and detain the lever 45 against the action of the spring 32. In this movement as the spring L8, yieldingly connecting the lever 45 and the regulator 24, is stronger than the spring 32, the regulator 2% moves with the lever 45.

In case the distance between the two stops 35 is not enough to allow the pawl 62 to drop behind the shoulder 67 the coiled spring 48 comes into play and allows the lever 45 to be moved independently of the regulator 2a until the pawl automatically swings into locking position.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the device of the present invention requires but a momentary application of power to effect a change in the feed, thereby allowing the operator freedom to move about and to handle the work. The pressure or force exerted upon the chain 71 is always applied in the same direction, successive applications in the same direction effecting immediate transformation of the machine from a baster to a finisher or vice versa. As the operations of basting and finishing have heretofore been done on separate machines and because of the loss of time and lack of uniformity in the product in attempting to change the feed with the regulating mechanisms on the market, the present invention fills a demand or long felt want and is of no inconsiderable importance to the trade.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is- 1. In a sewing machine, the combination with feeding mechanism including a shiftable feed-regulator and stops for determining a plurality of predetermined positions for said feed-regulator, of a to-and-fro movable manually operated element having a spring return independent of said feed-regulator, and connections for shifting said feed-regulator to and maintaining it in said predetermined positions, in alternation, by successive thrusts of said manually operated element in the same direction.

2. In a sewing machine having feeding mechanism including a feed-dog, actuating mechanism therefor, and a regulator for varying the length of the feeddogs movement, in combination with a mechanism operable through atreadle by successive depressions to alter thelength of the feeddogs movement and to maintain the length thereof as altered without continued pressure upon the treadle during a plurality of cycles of operation.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination of a feeding means, actuating mechanism therefor, and a regulator for varying the rate of feed, of mechanism for shifting the regulator in opposite directions and maintaining it in. eitherof predetermined positions by successive applications of power in the same direction.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination with a feeding mechanism including a feeddog, actuating mechanism therefor, and a regulator for varying the length of stitch, of mechanism for shifting the regulator and maintaining it in either of predetermined positions by successive applications of power in the same direction without stopping the operation of the machine.

5. In a feeding mechanism, the combination with a regulating mechanism for varying the length of stitch and stops for indicating the length of stitch, of mechanism for shifting the regulating mechanism and maintaining it in either of the conditions determined by the stops including a latch and trip and a lever actuating the trip.

6. In a. feeding mechanism, the combination with a regulating mechanism for varying the length of stitch and stops for indicating the length of stitch, of mechanism for shifting the regulating mechanism and niaintaining it in either of the conditions determined by the stops including a lever, a lifter and trip governed by said lever, a latch, and automatic means urging the trip and latch into an effective position.

7 In a feeding mechanism, the combination with a regulating mechanism for vary ing the length of stitch and stops for indicating the length of stitch, of mechanism for shifting the regulating mechanism' and maintaining it in either of the conditions determined by the stops including a lever manually operable in a given direction to effect a change in the length of stitch, and means for permitting lost-motion between the regulating mechanism and the shifting mechanism whereby the stops may be adjusted without the necessity of separately adjusting the shifting mechanism.

8. In a sewing machine having feeding mechanism including a feed-dog, actuating mechanism therefor, a regulator for shifting the actuating mechanism to vary the length of stitch, and stops, in combination with mechanism for operating the regulator between two predetermined limits and automatically maintaining it at either limit including a spring urging the regulator in a. given direction, a lifter for shifting the regulator in the opposite direction against the force of said spring, a latch for detaining the regulator after it has been shifted by the lifter, and a trip for releasing the latch, and a single means for operating said lifter, latch and trip 9. In a sewing machine having feeding mechanism including a feed-dog, actuating mechanism therefor, and a regulator for shifting the actuating mechanism to vary the length of stitch, in combination with mechanism for operating the regulator between two predetermined limits and automatically maintaining it at either limit 'including a spring urging the regulator in a given direction, and means for moving the regulator in the opposite direction and de taining it,

10. In a feeding mechanism for sewing machines including a feed-dog, means for actuating the feed-dog, a regulating mechanism for varying the throw of the feed-dog, and stops for predetermining the regula tion, in combination, mechanism for shifting the regulating mechanism and maintaining it against either of the stops, and a yielding connection between the shifting and regulating mechanisms.

11. In a feeding mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, a feed-dog, means. for actuating the same, regulating mechanism for varying the travel of the feedo-g, means for moving the regulating mec'ha ism in opposite directions including a spring, a lever, a separable connection between the lever and the regulating mechanism, a pawl, and means for tripping the pawl.

12. In a feeding mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, a feed-dog, means for actuating the feed-dog, regulating mechanism for varying the travel of the feed-dog, and means for conveniently manipulating the regulating mechanism including a lever operatively connected to the regulating mechanism, a treadle operable lever, means automatically operative to urge the levers in certain directions, a pawl, and a floating member movably supported on the treadle operable lever and alternately engageable with the other lever and the pawl.

18. In a feeding mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, a feededog. means for actuating the feed-dog, regulating mechanism for varying the throw of the feed dog, and means for quickly adjusting the regulating mechanism including a pair of levers. springs urging said levers in certain directions, a pawl, means carried by one of the levers for detachable engagement with either the other lever or the pawl, and means for automatically moving the pawl in a given direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

'ALBERT H. DE VOE. 

